Wickenburg, Ariz. (Webwire) April 16, 2008— “Crystal Darkness,” a documentary, aired last night throughout the state of Arizona on the methamphetamine crisis as drug counselors manned a hotline for those seeking help for themselves or someone else. A counselor from Gatehouse Academy, a long-term drug and alcohol rehab center, was involved with this unprecedented event. April Lane was the volunteer working for this cause. Lane has her Master’s in Education and is a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor.

The number of people seeking methamphetamine drug abuse treatment in the state of Arizona has quintupled in the past year, leading authorities to take action. Many prominent public figures, such as Senator John McCain and Governor Janet Napolitano, participated in the documentary by speaking about the dangers of the addictive substance. Their participation added credibility to the documentary.

The public response exceeded the expectations of Gatehouse Academy’s April Lane. She said that the majority of the calls were from people wanting to know the warning signs of meth use, followed by users themselves, seeking help for their addictions. Many family members and friends of users also called to seek advice on how to get their loved ones help.

“I also received a call from a young man whose girlfriend has been promising to get clean for some time now. She is on the verge of losing everything. His mother made him sit down to watch the ’Crystal Darkness’ presentation, and he decided to call us. I gave him some referrals to pass on to his girlfriend, and coached him to go to an al-anon or families anonymous meeting to get help for himself. He then mentioned that he knew her main source for getting a hold of meth and other drugs. I asked him if he would perhaps be a silent witness, and he obliged. I transferred him to a detective working on the phones.” About a dozen calls where tips on suspected clandestine meth labs.

The hotline, 1-888-METH-AID, will stay open for at least a year.

Gatehouse Academy offers treatment for those that are addicted to methamphetamine. Long-term drug treatment offers hope to those that live in the lonely and scary world that is meth addiction. Experts say that this addictive drug is different from other drugs as it rewires the brain to the point that the addict ceases to act like him or herself and loses consideration for the law, themselves and for their children.

The inside of a home was shown in the documentary where a child sat in the middle of an apartment that was dirty and filled with trash as his mother was handcuffed and being taken away by police. Lane says this is all too common among uses of meth and other drugs.

The documentary was told through the perspectives of young people that are addicted but are now in recovery. Many of the young women told how their addiction led them to prostitute themselves and they shared how they were raped, some more than once.

Lane said that “Crystal Darkness” applies to all drug addicts, not just meth addicts. “The symptoms of addiction might differ slightly from drug to drug but an addict is an addict. Heroin, cocaine and crack users need to seek drug rehab as well. ’Crystal Darkness’ applies to all drug users.”

Methamphetamine is a dangerous substance that tears lives and families apart. The effects of this drug cost people their jobs, families, freedom and lives. Methamphetamine should not be used even once, as many are addicted the first time they use it.

About Gatehouse Academy:
Gatehouse Academy is a long-term residential drug and alcohol facility exclusively for young adults age 17 - 25. Residents learn life skills, attend therapy, continue formalized education, enhance physical well-being, and recover from the effects of alcohol & drug abuse through focused 12 Step Recovery. For more information on Gatehouse Academy visit the website at http://www.gatehouseacademy.com or call toll free at 888.730.0905.